I have two little Sizzle and Silkie chicks ...10 weeks old now.. and they are getting rather aggressive with my hands, lately. They are pets and spend a good bit of time inside ..either it's too cool out or too hot... and they are spoiled rotten! I have been hand-feeding them mealies since I got them, to teach them their names and whatever else they can learn... but I think I've created two little monsters! Whenever they go after me and really nail me, I say "No" firmly and put my hand on their back or over their head, just briefly. Surprisingly, Obe got skin today! He's the more laid back one, usually. Tahti is so aggressive sometimes, I have to pick her up and hold her close to me to get her to stop grabbing my fingers. This helps and they quickly settle down, but is there something else I can do? What do you do when your pets attack?
Do you wear rings? They might be going after your nice shiny jewelry. Also if you feed them bugs out of your hands. They associate your hands with food. When they are hungry they attack your hands, just like a chicken scratching the ground to find bugs and seeds. They have learned your hands produce food. So yes you have created little monsters Cheers and Good Luck Nick
I usually take my jewelry off when I'm around the house ..don't want it to get ruined or dirty... but they do go after the two rings on my toes! I'll try to figure out a way to give them treats without my hands getting in the way ..but I like the concept of treat training. I guess it just doesn't work that well for chickens! Thanks! ~Aminah
Try putting their "rewards" in a 1/4 cup measuring cup. They will soon associate the cup with treats instead of your hands. THEN....... Get a "clicker" from the pet store used for dog training. When they do something you like, click the clicker and give them a treat in the cup IMMEDIATELY! Absolutely no hesitation between the desired action-the click-and the treat. If you are very consistant you can get them to do almost anything. Chickens are smarter that people give them credit for, but they are easily confused. You just have to train YOURSELF to be consistant before THEY can learn anything.
Hand feeding probably did it! I have a pile of horses and NEVER feed treats to any of them. I have seen so many people who feed their horses from their hands and then wonder why they bite them or attack them for the goodies. 1200 lbs is too big to be pushing my 120 lbs around for any reason. Chickens are no different. The training methods suggested will work! Good luck!
Thanks! I've been meaning to pick up a clicker for some of my other critters ..they do just as well to a specific whistle or "smooch" sound, but I thought I'd give the clicker a try... Now, I have even more reason to try! Great idea, btw! Thanks so much for the wisdom
I don't feed mine treats either and they don't try to bite my fingers aggressively at all. The do a few tiny pecks but not bad. What I do is I take them out and bring them to a desk and set the treat on the desk for them. That way they like me to take them out of the box because they know they are getting a treat.
I guess I would do something similar to the way I teach dogs to be gentle with hands. With new dogs I feed them their meal one kibble at a time, as soon as they get too rough, too grabby, too rude, or I feel teeth, the meal is abruptly over. First time they have to wait a few seconds. But if they still can't be nice then they can try again 20 minutes later. With chickens I would abruptly take your treats and leave as soon as one pecks you too hard. You may have to work with them one-on-one to fix it.
i'm gald someone asked this question..my chicks are also getting a bit pecky with my hands...but..i feed them out of my hand..stopping that now..thanks..Wendy